Longfin gurnard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Longfin gurnard |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Triglidae |
| Genus: | Chelidonichthys |
| Subgenus: | Aspitrigla |
| Species: |
C. obscurus
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| Binomial name | |
| Chelidonichthys obscurus (Walbaum, 1792)
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| Synonyms | |
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The longfin gurnard (Chelidonichthys obscurus) is a type of fish that lives in the ocean. It's also known as the long-finned gurnard or shining gurnard. This fish belongs to a group called gurnards and sea robins. You can find it in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, including the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. People often catch this fish to eat.
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Naming the Longfin Gurnard
Scientists give every animal a special two-part name, like a first and last name. The longfin gurnard was first officially described in 1798. A German scientist named Johann Julius Walbaum gave it the name Trigla obscura. He found it in the Mediterranean Sea.
The word obscura means "dark" or "dim." Walbaum didn't say why he chose this name. It might be because this gurnard has a plainer color compared to other gurnards, like the streaked gurnard.
What Does It Look Like?
The longfin gurnard has a big head. This head is covered with strong, bony plates that have many ridges and spines. It has two separate dorsal fins on its back. The first one has 10 or 11 stiff spines. The second dorsal fin has 17 to 19 soft rays. Its anal fin (on its underside) has 17 or 18 soft rays.
The first spine on its front dorsal fin is quite long. It also has three special rays on its pectoral fins (side fins) that are separate from the rest of the fin. The scales along its side are flat and plate-like.
Colors of the Longfin Gurnard
The top part of the longfin gurnard's body is a reddish-pink color. Its sides shimmer with iridescent colors, and its underside is pale. The pectoral fins are a dark blue. All its other fins are yellowish. This fish can grow up to about 50.5 centimeters (almost 20 inches) long.
Where Do Longfin Gurnards Live?
The longfin gurnard lives in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. You might find them off the coasts of southern England and Ireland, though they are rare there. Their home range stretches south to Mauritania, including places like the Canary Islands, the Azores, and Madeira.
They are common in most parts of the Mediterranean Sea. However, they are very rare near Turkey and not found in the far eastern parts of that sea. They also do not live in the Black Sea. These fish live near the bottom of the ocean, on the continental shelf. They prefer soft sand or mud, and sometimes rocky areas. You can find them at depths between 20 and 170 meters (about 65 to 560 feet).
Life Cycle and What They Eat
Longfin gurnards mostly eat small creatures that live on the ocean floor. Their favorite food is tiny shrimp-like animals called mysids. When they reproduce, their eggs and tiny larvae float freely in the water as plankton.
Fishing for Longfin Gurnards
In the Atlantic Ocean, people don't usually fish for longfin gurnards on purpose. They might be caught by accident when fishing for other types of fish. However, in the Mediterranean Sea, this fish is caught more often and is important for local fishing.
You can often find red gurnards in fish markets in countries like Spain, Morocco, Italy, Cyprus, and Egypt. Sometimes they are sold in France, Greece, and Turkey. The fish are sold fresh, chilled, or frozen for people to buy and eat.
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